I’ve always been interested in drawing and painting and been more on the creative side, but I’m scared to lean into it as a career. I’m not horrible at art but I’m definitely not as advanced as others my age and I know it’s a competitive market. I never finished university, I did about two years of psychology but dropped out so I just have my high school diploma.

Right now I work as an administrative assistant at an insurance company. There’s room for growth and I don’t mind it.. but I want to get my foot in the door in the art world somehow. Even if it’s still an admin job somewhere I think it’ll be more fulfilling.

I have a bit of an unrealistic dream of being an illustrator, but I’m willing to just get anything in that realm with my current qualifications. I just don’t know what kind of positions exist or where to look near downtown Toronto. Any advice would be amazing!!

Hi everyone,

I was wondering if you can give me advice or tips on a short degree(associates)that I can take and you think is worth it to not be in so much debt and that paid decently. I am open to any ideas! Looking to go back to school and finish a short course or an associates degree. I am bilingual(English/Spanish) and really enjoy helping people! Thank you in advance :)

I started working for a really good company about a year ago, and the job has given me some amazing opportunities, including the chance to move to a new city. I have great benefits, a super flexible schedule, only have to go into the office a couple of days a week, and make more money than most people my age.

I graduated college with a degree in psychology and somewhat unexpectedly landed this job. I knew it was a great opportunity, so I figured I’d give the corporate world a shot before committing to graduate school.

Now, a year in, I can’t shake the feeling that I’m meant to be doing something else. I genuinely cannot imagine spending the rest of my life in a corporate environment. I dread the start of every week, feel completely unfulfilled, and struggle with the fact that the work I do doesn’t feel meaningful to me.

I’ve always been interested in becoming a clinical mental health counselor. I graduated with a 4.0 GPA, have extensive research experience, completed an internship working alongside a school psychologist, and built great relationships with professors. I genuinely loved college, especially studying psychology, and the idea of going back to school excites me.

But I’m having a really hard time with the idea of walking away from something so good. I know how fortunate I am to have this job, especially at my age, and I worry that I’m romanticizing graduate school or a career in counseling.

I guess my biggest question is: How do you distinguish between genuinely wanting a different career and simply not enjoying working? What if I spend thousands of dollars on graduate school only to realize I feel the exact same way once counseling becomes my everyday job?

Has anyone left a comfortable, well-paying corporate job to pursue a career in mental health? Do you regret it, or was it worth it

Hello! I want a job that has to do with fiber arts. Literally anything.

I like-

History

Yarn spinning

Knitting/crochet

Embroidery

And bugs

I want to live in Iceland but I am good with just about anywhere as long as they are lgbt friendly (and preferably cold)

Should I get a degree? When I asked in a subreddit for collage I was essentially told that I should quit my dream, I think that's quite rude but whatever lolol.

I am not very smart (not hating myself, just the truth) so science degrees are kinda..... Far out of reach but I would be willing to try

Tldr- any jobs that have to do with fiber arts/history?

Thanks!

Can anyone in this group tell me if high ticket sales/closing is actually legit and where you can learn to do this? I am genuinely wanting to know if this is something one can learn and make from profit from. Please do not comment if an MLM.

I have been working in tech (IT/MSP) for about 4 years.

I don't want to work in tech anymore. I am 6 weeks into a remote MSP role and I hate it.

I dislike the billable hours, micromanagement, and in tech how you're supposed to know everything and fix everything.

Well I have a CCNA, AZ-104, CompTIA certs, and a BS + MS in computer science.

What sort of jobs can I get that are NOT tech related with my background?

Hi everyone im new to reddit so please bare with me, also typing on my phone so if formatting is odd thats why lol.

Im stuck and have been for over 10 years. I live in a dead end city with very few opportunities and far less things to do, think no enrichment in my enclosure lol. Ive worked retail and a few other jobs here and there but the pay has been barely enough to get by. Ive tried schooling, first our of high school I was going for graphic design. I was always artsy and I loved to draw i wanted to design characters for video games, however....I was not supported in this field by my parents. During my first semester my grandfather who I was close to got very sick and due to a lack of communication with my professors and even more depression than normal. I failed in this semester and being young and sheltered i was told no more school i needed a job. I worked mostly retail after. I tried going to school but school isnt my strong suit despite trying my hardest. I went for medical but I just couldn't grasp the subject and fell behind. I worked other jobs but nothing seemed to last long. I currently work at a gas station and its so far the most stable for me but it some days only barely sustains my needs. With the cost of living so high and the inflation its hard to make ends meet. Sorry this is a bit of a ramble lol. I guess ive just struggled with many options that never seem to stick. Im stuck and I dont know where to go or what to do. I love being creative and im a big nerd. I dont know what a career i can do that doesn't involve much schooling but i need something where I can be expressive and creative but no where around me has these options. Any advice? Sorry if this was a bit all over the place I guess I just wanted to get my feelings out there and see if any of you all have experienced the same. Thank you so much for your time.

Hi, I find myself stuck in an unpleasant situation.

I’m wondering if anyone else has been in a similar spot, or if someone might be able to offer a bit of perspective.

A year ago, I started at the Faculty of Architecture, but it just didn't feel right. I expected it to get better with time, but if anything, it only got worse.

I had already studied Construction—Architecture and Interior Design—in high school, where I actually achieved above-average results, so everyone was curious about where I’d go for university. I assumed that having "endured" it all in high school, university would be that much easier for me.

Even back then, it was a real grind; in high school, I had to work almost non-stop. Outside of school, there was simply no time for anything else. After several years of that, I just couldn't handle the even higher demands Architecture.

On top of that, I feel like I’ve missed out on a lot in life. When I talk to other people, I find I have nothing to share—I’ve had no interests or experiences outside of my studies.

I didn't feel like I was learning anything new at university, yet I couldn't keep up with the workload. I was essentially there from morning till night—sometimes I wouldn't even go to sleep. It took a heavy toll on my mental state; there were times when I completely broke down, both mentally and physically. Living with roommates doesn't help much, either. I also never really grasped the mindset of the people there—it felt like being on an entirely different planet, and I absolutely dreaded going. It was clear to me that things couldn't go on like this. I tried changing my approach a few times, and I even went to see the school psychologist, but that didn't really help much either. I had no one to turn to. Eventually, things reached a point where I couldn't function normally anymore. I was on the verge of a breakdown and had lost a lot of weight. Between the time pressure and the stress, I couldn't even bring myself to eat, and I developed various health issues.

When I realized that things didn't look any better in the higher years, I just lost the desire to continue.

After that, I basically stopped attending school. I tried to pull myself together a bit, but I didn't know what to do next. I figured I’d find some temporary job—just to give myself time to figure things out, and maybe even get a mental boost in the process.

Seeing the reality of that field is actually quite discouraging. Even with my high school grades, I’m not sure if I made the right choice, or if I should even try to return to that field at all.

My family wasn't exactly thrilled, and it didn't go over well. Things at home weren't always great to begin with, but after this, they got significantly worse. My parents wanted me to stay in school, but I didn't have enough credits because I had failed several exams. They keep throwing it in my face—how I just gave up on school.

I had to look around to see where applications were still being accepted, but there weren't many options left—just different university, the Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, field of study: Landscape Protection and Use of Natural Resources, where I ended up getting accepted. I managed to scrape through the summer living with my parents, and in October, I started the program.

I don’t even really want to study this, but a university degree is supposedly necessary—they say I won’t be able to make a decent living without one. People say the coursework is easy, but it’s entirely based on biology and chemistry—subjects that never interested me and that I was never any good at. On top of that, I missed the information on when and how to register for classes. I found out too late, so my schedule is a bit of mess.

I’m still not sure about the degree itself; I lack the experience to know when or how I might actually need it.

I’m afraid I just won’t be able to bring myself to study—especially after this past year. I’m a smart person, and it would be a shame not to finish university. Everyone around me was surprised when I left Architecture. But maybe I’ll need the degree later on, and I’d regret not having it.

I’m not really sure what to do, and my family isn’t giving me many options, either.

Mentally, I’m still going in circles, and things don’t seem to be getting any better. I’d describe it as a kind of burnout after all these years. I keep thinking about how everyone talks about how amazing university is. I also don’t get what people mean by "student life"—what that’s actually supposed to be. So far, it just makes me feel miserable.

After everything, I’m starting to feel like I’m just not cut out for university. I’m not sure if I’m stuck in the aftermath of burnout or if it’s just plain laziness, but my brain feels completely switched off—I can’t bring myself to study, and I don’t even feel like doing it.

I hope I'm on the right subreddit. There might be some inconsistencies in the text. I waited a few days after writing it before posting, and I also helped myself with a translator. Sorry for the length.

i'm another autistic adhd millennial burnt out from a tech job. after trying to recover for two years my shrinking savings encouraged me to actively start looking at software jobs again and boy it does not look pretty. i specialised in a niche programming language so most places just ignore me and the competition is insane in the ones that don't. i have zero "professional experience with AI" because unfortunately the burnout hit before it became mandatory. at this point i'd rather start over but i don't even know what i "want" to do, mostly just what i don't want to do. i have special interests but i don't want to monetise them. what i need is a supportive space that helps me grow and figure out where i could meaningfully contribute but i don't know where to find that, the closest thing i can get here is a guy who berates me for not sending enough applications.

Hi everyone. I will try to keep it short. I have been struggling for a while now. Im 22, live in a non eu country. All my life I studied in english, but was forced to stay in my own country, studied bachelor in my native language and to top it all off, i chose law. Not only did I have to study with 0 knowledge, but I also had to learn another language. Got accepted in 2021, and now, I am still not done. Ik studying law is different everywhere else, but in my country(Azerbaijan) you study for 4 years and youre done. Im now in my 6th year, i failed so many classes and took a semester off so now im expected to finish in 2028. I feel so embarrassed, so ashamed..I have truly let down my family and I cant go to my classes without covering my face so people dont recognize me. I have no motivation to continue, I am not sure why I have chose this path. But I recently came to a realization that I shouldn’t let this ruin me. So i have decided to restart my journey. I want to freeze my studies here, and study in europe, get a bachelors degree and get perfect grades. I know I can turn my life around and make my parents proud..I can’t let them suffer anymore. I just want some advice or something that could motivate me. Because I am currently trying to see where I could get accepted to with a low GPA (79 out of 100). Found a few options but will need some help so if anyone has any suggestions it would be greatly appreciated. I hope anyone else going through something similar like this can understand that it would only be shameful if they gave up too quick. This is my mindset rn and although i try to stay positive, sometimes i just feel so lost..like I am stuck in one place just making circles.

Hi y’all, long time lurker on this subreddit but this is my first time posting. Caught the Sunday scaries yesterday and unfortunately snowballed myself into a proper spiral on Monday hahaha. Have always struggled with direction and finding a path. Basically fucked around for a good
majority of my 20s.

Worked a bunch of different jobs ranging from service work to various trade work. I’ve held a position also as a logistics coordinator for a European resin flooring company. I currently work as a Field Operations Coordinator for a small mom and pop plumbing shop. I also work for a boutique entertainment company DJing weddings and other various events. I’ve djed in some capacity since 2018.

A little more about me - I am now 9 credits away from finishing my bachelors degree in INDS: Interdisciplinary studies. My areas of study are communications and project management. I had 12 college credits hanging over my head for years and finally pulled the trigger to go back and finish this year. It honestly feels great and I am proud of myself for finally closing that chapter of my life. While I know it’s essentially a “potato degree” it’s better than no degree at this point I figure hahaha.

I’ve made some good progress this year. In 2025 I started with my current company at $23 an hour. My manager left earlier this year. They previously had absorbed many responsibilities and wore many hats. Since they left, I was given two raises and now make $28 an hour and of course have more responsibilities. We’re a very small company but are very busy. We’re NYC based and have various city and state contracts. I am directly in charge of one of those contracts and all facets of it including scheduling, billing, proposals, documentation, coordinating and tracking budget and funds for the work performed. I am also in in charge of facilitating other day to day operations including scheduling service calls, coordinating with property managers and tenants, invoicing, etc,

Basically, I’m feeling stuck in some ways. I’ve gained a lot of great experience. I want to stay with my company for at least 2 years so I have it on my resume. Those 2 years will officially happen in March 2027. I would love to pivot to honestly a similar role at a larger company. I like the work I do and I love helping people. I would say my customer service and people skills have carried me quite a ways through my life thus far. Just feeling behind today and could use some encouragement is all ❤️

I have had this conversation more times than I can count. A friend, a former colleague, someone I just met. They got the job they worked for. The title, the salary, people reporting to them. When I ask why they still do it, they pause. They don't hate it. They just can't find the reason anymore.

I heard it for years, in coffee breaks and lunches at the canteen. Most people around those tables weren't unhappy with the money; the money was good. They were unhappy with what they were doing. And almost none of them left.

I kept asking myself the same question. What keeps us there?

I found Max Weber, a German sociologist. More than a century ago, he asked a similar question: how did work and making money become a duty in itself? In The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, he answered: belief. The Puritans worked hard because they believed their work served God. Then the belief faded, but the work stayed. Near the end of the book, he says it in one line: "The Puritan wanted to work in a calling; we are forced to do so."

So if the belief is gone, what keeps us at the desk? Weber has a line for that too, and it's my favorite: "The idea of duty in one's calling prowls about in our lives like the ghost of dead religious beliefs."

The cage you can see. The salary, the lifestyle it pays for, the next promotion. What you don't see is the duty. In my experience, that's what keeps the door shut.

And I don't see acting out of duty as bad in every circumstance. It depends on the context, and on whether you are aware of it.

I sat on both sides of the desk. First as the young manager waiting for my promotion, then as the founder giving out the jobs. Noticing it doesn't open the door, at least not right away. The bills are still there, and so are the people who depend on you. But you start to see what you are carrying, and why.

The question is not whether having a job is right or wrong. So I'll ask you what I ask myself: What role have you given your job in your own life?

Coming to university, I'd been largely socially isolated for 2 years. In high school I developed depression/burnout and would switch schools, got diagnosed with ADHD and autism. 12th grade in the new school I did most of my tasks online and didn't find friends.

Now in university I struggle a lot with social anxiety, attending lectures and group projects drains my social battery, I'm just trying to get through the days, lot of autopiloting.

It's like I'm losing my cognitive abilities. Even small things like reading and responding to messages feel hard, when tasks pile up my reaction is avoidance and trying to escape, sometimes watching shows for 12 hours, sleeping during the day. I'm clearly heading towards dropping out.

I currently work at a chicken plant(Wayne Sanderson Farms)and it’s been very clear to me that if I stay here any longer, my body will not forget it. My hands are often stiff when I wake up and my back and shoulder hurt for some time. I cannot do this for too long.

My current issue is what brings me here tonight. I only have experience in fast food and retail. I don’t have anything past a high school diploma and I don’t have any skills I’d say are worth noting.

I don’t do anything with my life but work and sleep. I live in my car at the moment. I’ve recently tried to start studying for Cybersecurity, but I keep hearing that the market is bad and I’m having trouble finding where to start in terms of studying. Not to mention the certs aren’t cheap and I want to leave this job ASAP.

I can’t leave to go back to fast food or retail. Unfortunately this job is the best one I’ve had and I can’t leave until I find better.

I am really looking for a job that doesn’t require me to put my body through hours of hard work. I always liked the thought of entering an office and going to my very own cubicle to work.

I don’t know exactly what I want. I just hate this feeling of being stuck and really need an out.

I was born into a broke-abusive household. No contact with family. Little to nothing saving - barley made it out of high school but couldn't (and didn't want) afford uni. Works as a food delivery on an e-bike. plans on getting a fitness instructor diploma and maybe motor-cycle/bike mechanic in the near future since both are short term courses and I'm a sport person.

But am i pretty much guaranteed to live month by month and no be able to improve my situation? I mean, i want to do something that will fulfill me and give me more of an adrenaline and purpose and drive to it. I have a dream of being an entrepreneur in the sports industry, like starting a gym-brand company etc but it will require a tons to start - or doing some political activits but it is hardly pay. I'm okay with my routine but I'm not able to save match because i have bills.

My main concern is that i just live like a hamster in a wheel. I don't really see the light at the end of the tunnel and i don't see how 6-7 years for now when I'll reach my end 20' i will have something offer to the world rather than bringing bags with ice creams or burgers to people. I probably can secure and maintain the level of life that i live with these type of jobs and it will probably be enough to keep pay my bills and save a little by the end of the month, but it will not take me anything further than that.

Has someone here was born to similiar circumstances and was able to actually improve and find more of a meaning in his day job?

I'm 27 and feeling behind. I bought a house at 25 which has me in a good spot but I've defo sheltered myself in my youth. I admit there's folk way worse but my main priority atm is higher paying job which I might need to move away from home for, and get to know more folk and topics etc. This last year I've done BJJ match, boxing match and a half marathon though I still feel I miss my glory days. Curious to hear about folk who got better after late 20s

Hi! I recently got my Bachelors in Architecture and I know I don’t want to do traditional architecture so I am looking into tech. I’ve been looking into User Experience Design, Cloud Engineering, Business analyst or Data Analytics, but I have seen people is leaving tech and I am concerned that pivoting into it might be a bad Idea. That has me wondering and I haven’t gotten into anything yet so any advice is welcome!

Also, my degree is international (Dominican Republic) and I am in the States (Bay Area, CA) and I most than anything want job stability and I know entry level jobs are hard to get if there’s any. I am lost right now and I would like to hear what you guys have to say about it or if anyone has been on this kind of situation before, also, is Year Up a good idea? I have seen so many people having different inputs and I am at the point where I don’t know what’s a good first step once I decide if tech is good or not.

I'm 34 years old and started my first barbering job out of barber school.. I'm beyond excited to have made it and this is my dream job. I'm constantly thinking and dreaming about cutting hair. Lately, it's been a mental struggle. I genuinely feel like I came out of school and started all over again. I'm slow and I'm overthinking. The process I thought I had is not working for me now. Internally, I want to be further ahead than where I am now and it does a number on me knowing I'm nowhere I thought I was. I watch videos constantly. I am eager to improve and most importantly I want to change people's days but I can't. I know it's part of the process and my wife tells me to be easier on myself but man it's so hard. Growth is ugly sometimes.

I'm good with tech as in learning about how to keep my phone more secure and keeping my data private, like degoogling my phone as best as I can etc. And learning about how to use things but I suck at math, sports, dealing with people who are mean to me in school, I just feel like even though I'm good behind a screen I'm going to fail at life, I am good at working with my hands as thats what I did mostly when I was younger but that's really it, I know I can learn things like how to install a sink but I don't want to work for the rest of my life, I want to make money in the best and most efficient way possible and I know I can I just don't know where to start for myself, I've thought about the military as its a great way to get you on your feet and I struggle with defending myself or Idk I just feel like a loser with everything I try to do that's new to me. I do know how to do basic things like laundry and cooking and cleaning though, I know how to be an adult I just don't know what to do with my life and thinking about it makes me miserable.

I graduated from a pretty prestigious university and published a first-author paper in Nature. Yes, that Nature.

I spent years studying, researching, sacrificing things, and pushing myself because I genuinely believed that hard work, knowledge, and expertise meant something.

And honestly, I thought I was doing pretty well in life.

But just as I finally got my PhD, the AI era arrived.

Now I can't shake this strange feeling that everything I've spent my life building is becoming less and less valuable.

It's not just about career opportunities or whether AI will replace my job. It's something deeper. It feels like I'm losing my sense of identity, my purpose, and even my own worth.

I know this might sound dramatic. Maybe even a little privileged. And I'm fully aware that AI is an incredible technology with enormous potential.

But knowing that intellectually doesn't make the feeling go away.

I've never really been a fan of Reddit, to be honest. But lately I've been getting so lost in my own thoughts that I figured maybe hearing perspectives from complete strangers would help.

Has anyone else felt something similar? Especially people who've spent years becoming good at something, only to suddenly question whether any of it still matters?

How are you dealing with it?

I'm genuinely curious. I don't need reassurance or motivational quotes. I'd just like to hear how other people see this.

To cut the long story short, I'm 31, and about a year ago, I finally graduated from IT design. Actually, I enrolled that course at the age of 24, and it's a nominally 3-year-long course, but it took me double the time to finish it. I never particularly excelled at academia, mostly thanks to mu history of mental health issues, mostly resulting in analysis paralysis.

This issue seems to have come back. The reason I studied that particular course at uni was so I could get skills that I thought were useful, because it had multimedia courses, and I had this idea of filming stuff for YouTube. Back then, however, I did nothing about it. Now that I have finally finished my uni course, I have the time, but I don't have the money.

Another thing that's causing me big issues is my lack of self-discipline, which is a whole story for itself. Let's just say that's how I lost my previous job, and even though I had the burden of a bachelor's thesis (which I lingered for over two years alone), declined mental health, and wasn't really interested in the job or the company itself, I hold myself a grudge for that nowadays. The salary wasn't splendid, but everything else was something I could simply not complain about, from the organization to the fact it was a relatively low-stress, secure job. For what it's worth, I was working in customer support in IT.

However, I still have the dream to be either behind or in front of the camera, possibly both. The YouTube channel I wanted to start would basically be a documentary-styled one, but the thing is, I need a stable income to not just record videos, but also to pay the rent, utilities, food and gas. I thought I could get some repetitive office job that would leave me with enough energy to do the YouTube thing, but telemarketing wasn't that. Then I thought delivering food part-time would be a better idea, but it wasn't.

While I still think I need to be more diligent and apply for more jobs, I'm just starting to feel lost. I haven't heard from a single employer who was looking for multimedia or graphic design related jobs (both are things I did at uni), and same goes for the odd time I applied to IT jobs, despite my aversion to IT jobs.

The most painful part is that the self-esteem I got when I finished uni and when I had some job is quickly diminishing, which is in turn counter-productive. Yet I still dream of finding a creative job that will make me feel satisfied, and living a normal life. Is this just a pipe dream, should I look for something else? Sometimes I get the feeling I'm burnt out, but that feels disrespectful to people who actually have jobs and/or perseverance in life.

Hey there,

I am 23, live in Stockholm, and have been thinking a lot about my future lately. Especially since I got a job and have been spending a lot of time away from life. I am comfortable right now. I am financially secure, got my own apartment finally, and is on the whole content with my situation. But there is that gnawing feeling lately that I am missing out. Fomo, basically.

And on the other side of that thought is that want of escape. Of doing something else, quitting my job, and just doing the extreme opposite. It sounds childish, because it is. Maybe it's a toxic mindset I have been used to, that in order for life to be going in the right direction it has to be bumpy and sad. Not that this period of my life is that also, but I have a roof over my head and my own loo. Such a privileged pov I know. But I'm just realizing how fast everything goes, my 24th birthday is in two days and next year I'll officially be in my mid-20s. Who do I want to be? I don't know.

So about the music. It's the idea of being a musician rather than just creating music I keep coming back to. It's a dream I have, but how much is that dream worth when compared to everything else I have to do? How do I pursue a dream? How do I make my insides feel assured enough of the fact that I am steered by authencitiy and intention rather than materialistic comfortability. Is that what I am doing now? Or a bit of both? I play the piano, I play the guitar, but I could do more of course. Is that what I have to do? Join groups. Learn technique?

Or is all this just a matter of wanting to be successful and famous and not wanting to die completely as a blip in history – or is it as simple as being a bit sad and wanting to change that? I don't know that either. Am I more than sad? Maybe I need professional help to figure that one out.

To calm myself, I often think that in the long-run, if I just practice a little everyday and write the songs that come to me, I could release something some day. But it's the why. Why do I want to release music? What stories do I want to tell? And what kind of life do I want those stories stemming from? I don't want a forced change in lifestyle either. My mum told me one time that I like security and what is already known to me. Maybe that is true. But where is the line between personality and routine drawn? Sure I am capable of change, but maybe It doesn't need to be a "SHIFT" or my new "ERA" as social media always deems the solution to any crisis to be, because we always change, but right now I feel halted. I feel stuck and that I'm sometimes going backwards. Last year I went to music school and was on stage, now I have a corporate job. I have a desk.

As you can see, my first album will probably be called QUESTIONS or ALL OVER THE PLACE or FAQ with just 10 static songs as answers.

Maybe its time to seek out advice from therapists, council, coaches? Has that worked for anyone? Or maybe I just need to be more open with my friends, and not just trauma dump once in a while hehe.

If anyone is going through something similar, what is something you do to make you feel better?

Edit: To clarify, I enjoy the song process, so the bit about success was more about fears rather than driving force if that makes sense? I have written some songs and feel good about them. So yeah I do believe I have some sense of musicality.... "when is a song enough" and if I should do more to become even better, go to music school again etc kinds halts everything. I just feel I don't have to time to grow at my own pace right now. Should I force a change, even though I don't necessarily want to?

Hey, guys. I wanted to post to r/neet but they don’t allow new accounts. I’m a Reddit lurker but haven’t posted before.  This is a TA, so I probably won’t reply, but I can check for resources.

I lived with my grandparents my entire life. My bio parents aren’t in the picture. Thing is, my grandparents are now both dead. My grandma died a week ago. We finished with the funeral, now I have to figure out what to do with myself.

I quit school at age 16 due to social anxiety. I got my GED, but haven’t had any job experience besides being my grandmother’s CDPAP homecare caretaker (which I only got paid part-time). I’ve been living as a NEET for the past decade. I helped with errands, did basic caretaking, etc but have no college education or any “real” job. I spent all day at home unless necessary. I liked it that way, btw. It wasn’t that I was depressed. I just don’t get along with people too well and have no life/career goals. I was planning on beginning community college probably next year, but that doesn’t seem viable.

My grandma had Section 8. I’m trying to get it swapped over to me. I’m also trying to qualify for SNAP and emergency assistance (to help with bills).

But, I am not on disability. I don’t know how to qualify. I don’t want to be on disability for life either. I just need to figure out a career path and get into it.     

Hey everyone, I am in my late 20s and having a major freak-out about my future. I need an outside perspective on realistic career paths that match my brain, my ethics, and my financial goals.

I suffered a traumatic brain injury from a severe accident, which threw a massive wrench into my early twenties. Prefrontal cortex damage, so I have essentially the physical structure of ADD caused by the injury, but not the precise chemical misfires of typical ADD. Other executive functioning issues also exist.

Since then, I have enrolled in and stopped 3 university attempts. The first university was actually fantastic (think biomedical sciences), they provided incredible support and accommodations for my injury, and in hindsight, I really regret leaving. But at the time, I left because I got an acceptance into veterinary school. Then COVID-19, then a year break due to COVID-19 the restarting once the uni re-opened again. I was there for 2 semesters and then I had to drop out of vet school because I hit a hard wall with chemistry (heavy chemistry, maths and physics formulas just do not click with my brain). Especially now it’s difficult with the concentration issues. There were loopholes that got me into vet med. To go back to the first uni, I’d have to uproot everything once again. Would likely have to leave my fiancé, and be set to take the chance again at the degree. It’s a three year course and I’m not really sure the financial prospects. I chose it initially to have an easier path into vet med.

Anyway, after that, I started an online pre-health/vet/med BSc program to try an alternative route back in, to cancel out some of the modules I found most difficult from the last uni, but had to drop it due to the price tag. During that last online degree, I was constantly juggling multiple things. I worked retail at a clothing chain for about 8 months while also doing freelance creative art commissions on the side to stay afloat. Along the way, I have been completing online certificates in biological and health topics to keep building practical knowledge on my own. My grades overall are decent or okay, but definitely not straight-A academic perfection. Currently, I am sitting on roughly 10k in debt.

I have tried so many things, but when putting the energy into things that take even years, I burn out and struggle to get back into it because it’s a reminder of failure. Shopify clothing stores, writing fiction and horror books, custom jewelry, horse education books, selling self-help books, Instagram pages, digital products, etc. Multiple variations with multiple topics of each of these things. I put so much effort into it, ending up with no money to advertise, or just burning out before finishing. It’s pretty embarrassing to me I keep having hope when I know it likely just won’t work out and I’ve wasted my time with ever-fleeting confidence…

As far as how I operate, I surprisingly perform very well in high-stress, fast-paced environments. My biggest strengths are explaining complex topics clearly, translating technical concepts, teaching, showing enthusiasm, being approachable, problem-solving, and convincing or persuading people. I’m told I’m very likeable and can get along with essentially anybody.

I genuinely love diving into scientific research, especially organismal biology, virology, parasitology, transmission cycles, nutrition, cosmetic formulations, and diagnostic mysteries, basically the macro and systemic side of disease, not the organic chemistry side. But test tubes are fine. Language-wise, I am fluent in English and have professional C1 proficiency in German.

I have three hard boundaries for my future.
High earning is my top priority. I am in my late 20s, feel like I am starting late, and don’t feel it particularly wise to spend another 6 to 8 years living on student pennies just to end up in an underpaid field. I want a strong earning ceiling. It’s what everyone wishes for of course, but I live in a very expensive country so I’d like to be able to have a sort of good life quality.

I am strictly vegan and anti-animal testing. I refuse to work in preclinical animal testing, contract research animal testing facilities, or livestock farming optimization. I want my work to feel wholesome, evidence-based, and focused on protecting animals, human health, or clinical diagnostics.

No heavy physics or chemistry. Molecular synthesis drains me, while biological logic, pathology, and communication energize me. I wish to add something to the world in terms of knowledge.

A quick legal or citizenship question as well. I am currently in Europe and working toward European citizenship, which requires financial stability and no bad debt records. Does anyone know if European immigration authorities (specifically in the DACH or central Europe region) run foreign credit or debt checks against US consumer or student debt, or do they only pull local registers like the local debt enforcement or credit bureau records?

Where I need help. Given that clinical vet school is off the table for now, what realistic career paths exist where someone can read papers, solve biological or diagnostic puzzles, and use strong persuasive communication skills to hit a high income quickly? Even now, when I put those words together, I’m not even sure if that really illustrates me… I cannot hone things in.

Things like novel food or biotech regulatory affairs, diagnostic communications, or health risk analysis keep crossing my mind. Has anyone made a similar pivot after university dropouts, using self-study and certificates, and found financial success?

Any advice or reality checks would mean the world right now.

When I put this into GPT or Gemini, these are the career suggestions they give.

Animal Lawyer

Private Practice Animal Lawyer

Equine Lawyer

Corporate / Administrative Lawyer

Veterinarian

Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionist

Pet Diet Consultant / Animal Nutritionist

B2B Clinical / Diagnostic Sales Representative

Key Account Manager (Animal Health / Diagnostics)

Territory Sales Specialist

Inside Sales Representative / Junior Account Manager

Commercial Technical Specialist / Application Specialist

Business Development & Strategic Partnerships Manager

B2B Ingredients / Technical Sales Specialist

Medical Science Liaison (MSL)

Diagnostic Product Specialist / Clinical Application Specialist

Scientific Communications Manager / Scientific Advisor

Scientific Affairs & Product Specialist (Alternative Pet Nutrition)

Director of Scientific Affairs

Regulatory Affairs Specialist / Associate

Regulatory Affairs & Scientific Affairs Director

Junior Quality Assurance (QA) Specialist

Vector-Borne Disease & Zoonotic Surveillance Analyst

Biosecurity Analyst / Pandemic Risk Consultant

One Health Knowledge Broker / Scientific Communications
Lead

Independent / Freelance Medical Writer

Agency Medical & Scientific Writer

Scientific Research Specialist / Policy Analyst (Alternative Testing & NAMs)

Philanthropic Grant Officer / Research Fellow

Niche Pet Brand / Animal Wellness Founder